Carton



Aug. 18, 1964 N, J, ASMAN 3,144,978

CARTON Filed July 2o, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 3S 32 60 INVENTOR Sgm@NORMA'W" 64 sa s3 Bb?? f. ld V767 M ATTORNEYJ N. J. ASMAN Aug.. 18, 1964CARTON 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 20, 1962 INVENTOR.

m A m w m A. 1W A ANH.; M R o N MMM United States Patent O 3,l44,978CARTN Norman l. Asmara, Appleton, Wis., assigner to American CanCompany, New York, NX., a corporation of New ersey Filed .lnly Ztl,1962, Ser. No. 211l,287 6 laims. (Cl. 229-37) This invention relates toa tamperproof carton which can be made from a single blank of a typesuitable for a variety of uses, such as the packaging of food products,and the method of producing said carton. More specilically, theinvention may be used for `making siftproof packages or" foods, such aspowdered cake mixes.

Granular or powdered foods are packaged customarily in a carton havingan inner liner material or separate pouch to prevent the commodity fromescaping through the end edges or corners of the carton. Unless an innerliner or pouch is employed, the product may escape through openingscreated by the overlapping of the closure elements. This type of packagehas several economic drawbacks. The cartons are more expensive toproduce, not only because of the additional material required for theliner or pouch, but also because of the cost of inserting the materialeither as a liner or as a commodity-containing pouch. Further, thedouble thickness of carton material accompanying the overlapping of theclosure aps increases the cost of the carton. From the standpoint ofeconomy of operation, it is therefore desirable to produce sealedtamperproo cartons from blanks that can be perfectly dovetailed whenlaid out on a sheet, and which do not require an inner liner o1' pouchto render them siftprcot.

lt is therefore an object of the present invention to provide atarnperproof carton that can be produced from a carton blank which isperfectly dovetailed with immediately adjacent carton blanks in layoutprior to the separation of the individual blanks.

Y et another object or the present invention is to provide a sealedcarton which requires no inner liner or pouch to render it essentiallysiftproof.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro vide a method ofproducing from a dovetailed blank sealed, tainperproof cartons which areessentially siltu proof.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a carton havingtwo opposed overlapping elements sealed together with the resultingthickness through the overlapping area of the elements being equal tothe thickness of either of the elements adjacent over the lapping area.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a dovetailedlayout of the carton blanks in which a single thickness of the flexiblecarton material provides a portion of a -flap or panel element for eachor" two immediately adjacent carton blanks.

Still another object is to provide a carton which can be readily set upand closed by automatic equipment.

According to the present invention, a carton is produced from acompletely dovetailed blank, having at least one pair of closureelements which coact to close one side or end of the finished carton,each of said elements hav ing a portion approximately one half of thethickness of the element removed with the removed portions beingessentially equal in area to each other. The combined thickness of theelements in the Set up carton, when the reas having the portions removedare overlapped, is essentially equal to the thickness of either of theaforementioned elements in the area adjacent the removed portions.

Further details, advantages and objects of the invention will beapparent from the following specification and accompanying drawingswherei FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a fragment of a continuous websuitably cut and sc red to form a plurality of successive mating ordovetailed carton blanks,

Flr/EURE la is a partial section of the web of carton blanks taken alongline liz-ln of FIGURE l,

FlGURlE 2 is a plan view or" blank B of FGURE l separated from thesurrounding blanks,

3 is a iragmental perspective view of the blank shown in PlGUiE 2partially set up,

PlGURE 4 is a partial sectional view of the partially set up carton withthe bottom closed taken along line l-d of lllGUlE 3,

FIGURE S is a fragmental perspective view similar to FGURE 3, showing afurther stage in forming the completed carton,

FGURE 6 is a perspective view of ton, and

FIGURE 7 is a partial sectional view of the closed carton taken alongline 7-7 of FIGURE 6.

Referring rst to FlGURE l, a fragment-al portion of a web or" flexiblesheet material, such as paperboard, which has been suitably cut andscored is shown. The web is divided by said cutting and scoring intoblanks A, B, C, D, H l which are located in adjacent. relationship thecompleted carn ane. e with no waste or broke between adjoining blanks.Each of the blanks is identical with all of the other blanks and has thesame corresponding elements. Although the blanks shown in FIGURE l areinterconnected, all of the edges found in a single blank are shown. Forinstance, the edges 32, 3d, 3d, lll and l2 found in FlGURE 2, whichshows blank B of FIGURE 1 separated from the other blanks, define thepoints of connection between the adjacent blanks. FlGURE la which is afragments! section through the web shows the connecting portion betweenblanks A and B and is representative of the areas adjacent the otherhereinbefore mentioned edges. The web in this area has two oiset cutlines extending approximately bali way through the sheet material fromopposite sides of the web. Each cut line defines a pair of edges in faceto face relationship, i.e. 32 and on the upper side of the web, 33 and33 on the lower side.

The blanks A, B, C, D, E and F are separated along the connected edgesby shearing or peeling the carton material from the inner end of one ofthe cut lines eX- tending half way through the sheet material to theinner end or the cut line extending into the sheet from the oppositeside. F or example, in FlGUlE la, the separation is along a planeessentially parallel to the surfaces of the blank and which passesthrough the inner ends of the cut lines. As is readily apparent, thethickness of the separated blanks in the areas adjacent the edges 32,34, 36, 3S, lil and is essentialy one half the thickness of theremainder of the blank and of the same density as the original blank. Asubstantial economy in carton material is made possible by the use or"the saine portions of arrears carton material to provide separateportions of two diterent riaps. In customary carton construction each ofthe end panels is usually either coextensive or nearly coextensive inarea with the end opening and are of full thickness throughout, lt is tobe noted that the free upper edge of the blanks in the web shown inFlGURE l would ordinarily either have other blanks or waste connectedthereto. The additional blanks or waste has been omitted to facilitatedescription of the layout of blanks and interconnection thereof.

Blank B, shown in FIGURE 2, is representative of the individualseparated blanks shown in FIGURE 1. The blank is divided by score lineslds-23 and cut lines Ztl- 31 into hingedly connected panels and iiapsincluding side panels 60, 6?. and 66, main panels 6l and 63, dust aps65, 67, 69, 76, 72 and 7d, and end panels 66, 66, 7l and 73. Side panels6d and 64 and end panels 66, 68, 71 and '73 are actually closure panelssince they cooperate to form a composite panel to close the carton. Eachof the closure or side and end panels has an otlset inner edge and outeredge because of the dif-ference in thickness of the adjacent portions ofthe panels. Similarly, dust llaps 65, 69, 76 and 7dhave areas of varyingthickness. The marginal portion located between the inner and outeredges of one side panel as well as the marginal portions of theadjoining dust iiaps cooperate with the marginal portions of the sidepanel and adjoining dust flaps on the opposite edge of the blank whenoverlapped to form a composite panel of essentially uniform thickness.Similarly, the marginal portions of the end panels on a common edge ofthe carton blank combine when overlapped to form a composite panel ofessentially uniform thickness as described more fully below. It isimportant from the standpoint of appearance as well as siftproofnessthat cooperating marginal portions be of the same conguration.

The blank B is formed into a glued carton shell by applying adhesive tothe marginal portions of side panel 64 and dust flaps 69 and 76 deiinedby inner edge 39 and outer edge 38, infolding main panel 61 about scoreline 11 to lie directly superposed on main wall 63, infolding side panel64 and the attached dust flaps 69 and 76 about score line 13, andadhering the adhesive bearing marginal portions to the underlyingmarginal portions of side panel 6i) and dust flaps 65 and 74 defined byedges 32 and 33. In such condition, the shell may be shippedeconomically to the product packager for set up, filling and closing.

FIGURE 3 depicts an initial stage in which the carton is squared andready for filling. When the shell is squared panels 61, 62, 63 and thecomposite panel formed by panels 60 and 64 are positioned consecutivelyat right angles to each other. FIGURE 3 shows in section the compositepanel formed of side panels 6i) and 64. In the composite panel inneredge 33 of side panel 66 abuts outer edge 38 of side panel 6d.Similarly, outer edge 32 of side panel 6i) abuts the inner edge 39 ofside panel 64. The dust iiaps 7@ and 7d with overlapped marginalportions are shown in FIGURE 4 folded inwardly perpendicular to the sidepanels. The abutment of adjacent edges is dependent upon the marginalportions of the side panels 66 and 64 being of the same configuration.

Since the closing steps are the same for both ends of the carton,reference is had to closing just one end of the carton. The end of thecarton shown in FIGURE 4 has been previously closed. In closing theother end, dust lap 67 and the composite dust iiap composed ofoverlapped dnst aps 65 and 69 are folded inwardly about their respectivescore lines connecting them to the side panels to lie perpendicular tothe side panels. Next end panel 63 is infoided about score line 1'7 tolie superposed on dust aps 65, 67 and 69 in a position perpendicular tothe main walls 61 and 63, as shown in FiGURE 5'. The closure iscompleted by applying adhesive to the inner surface of the marginalportion of end panel 66, defined by edges 34 and 3S, and infolding panel66 about score line 'd 15 to overlie and become adhered to theunderlying marginal portion of end panel 63 defined by edges 36 and 37.FIGURE 6 shows the completed sealed carton.

FIGURE 7 shows in section the end closure of the cornpleted carton. Theinner and outer edges of end panels 66 and 63 from abutting pairs ofedges in which edge 34 abuts edge 37 and edge 35 abuts edge 36. Again,as i1 the composite side panel construction, the marginal pon tionsoverlap so that the composite panel has a single uniform thickness.Because of the uniform thickness of the composite panels and the factthat the inner and outer surfaces of the composite panels are dened by asingle pair of planes, the space usually found between the end panelsand the dust flaps due to the overlapping of the end panels iseliminated. In ordinary cartons the thickness of the carton wall in thearea of overlapping is usually twice the thickness of the cartonmaterial. The double thickness is undesirable since it destroyssiftproofness (if the carton is unlined), presents an uneven printingsurface and increases the amount of material required.

It is apparent that the carton can be made siftproof by applyingadhesive to the outer surfaces of the dust flaps so that the innersurfaces of the end panels become adhered thereto. Such a carton iscompletely tamperproof since an entry cannot be made without a tearingof the carton elements. lf desired, the composite panel constructionaccording to the present invention can be utilized on either the sidepanel or end panels alone. For instance, the composite side panelconstruction may be employed in the carton shown in U.S. Patent No.3,037,- 681. The resulting carton, although not siftproof and requiringmore carton material, still eects an economy of carton material overconventional cartons employing overlapping full thickness panels.

The present invention provides an economy tamperproof carton which canbe produced readily on automatic machinery from an integral blank. Theinitial dovetailed composite layout of the carton blank provides aneconomy of material not only due to the dovetailing, thereby eliminatingbroke and the necessity of removing it, but also because one thicknessof carton material produces elements for two adjacent blanks. The cartonconstructed from the dovetailed blanks can be made siftproof readilywithout the use of a separate line or pouch. Furthermore, the over-allappearance of the finished carton is markedly improved since there is noraw edge of board resulting from overlapping of carton elements.

It is to be understood that the description of the construction given ismerely illustrative and may be varied or modiiied, such variations beingintended to be included Within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A composite layout of dovetailed attached carton blanks comprising aplurality of blanks deiined by cut lines and score lines; each of saidblanks including (1) a pair of main panels hingedly connected along oneedge by an intervening side panel (2) a pair of closure panels extendingfrom corresponding edges of said main panels having their remote edgeson each side of the blank being defined by partial cut lines extendinghalfway through the thickness of the carton blank, the edge deliningpartial cut lines on one side of the blank being otiset from the edgedefining partial cut lines on the other side of the blank.

2. The layout of claim 1 wherein in each blank the offset between theedge defining partial cut lines of one closure panel extending from onemain panel is essentially equal to the offset in the closure panelextending from the corresponding edge of the other main panel.

3. The layout of claim 2 wherein in each blank the outermost edgedeiining partial cut line of said one closure panel is on the oppositeside of the layout from the outermost edge defining partial cut line ofthe closure panel extending from said corresponding edge.

4. A composite layout of dovetailed attached carton blanks COmPTSHg aplurality of blanks defined by cut ara-ame E; lines and score lines;each of said blanks having (1) a pair of main panels hingedly connectedalong one edge by an intervening side panel (2) closure panels extendingfrom the remaining edges of each of said main panels 6. The layout ofclaim 5 wherein the outermost edge de'ining partial cut line of said oneclosure panel is on the opposite Side of the layout from the outermostedge defining partial cut line of the closure panel extending havingtheir remote ed Yes on each side of the blank being from said corresondinn ed e. D E

defined by partial cut lines extending halfway through the thickness ofthe carton blank, the edge dening partial eut lines on one side of theblank being otset from the edge defining partial cut lines on the otherside of the blank.

5. The layout of claim 4 wherein the offset between the edge definingpartial cut lines of one closure panel extending from one main panel isessentially equal to the offset in the closure panel extending from acorresponding edge of the other main panel.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS358,671 Jaeger Mar. l, 1887 1,281,356 Harbeck Oct. l5, 1918 1,698,532Brooks lan. 8, 1929 1,905,334 Bicker Apr. 25, 1933 2,949,151 GoldsteinAug, 16, 1960

1. A COMPOSITE LAYOUT OF DOVETAILED ATTACHED CARTON BLANKS COMPRISING APLURALITY OF BLANKS DEFINED BY CUT LINES AND SCORE LINES; EACH OF SAIDBLANKS INCLUDING (1) A PAIR OF MAIN PANELS HINGEDLY CONNECTED ALONG ONEEDGE BY AN INTERVENING SIDE PANEL (2) A PAIR OF CLOSURE PANELS EXTENDINGFROM CORRESPONDING EDGES OF SAID MAIN PANELS HAVING THEIR REMOTE EDGESON EACH SIDE OF THE BLANK BEING DEFINED BY PARTIAL CUT LINES EXTENDINGHALFWAY THROUGH THE THICKNESS OF THE CARTON BLANK, THE EDGE DEFININGPARTIAL CUT LINES ON ONE SIDE OF THE BLANK BEING OFFSET FROM THE EDGEDEFINING PARTIAL CUT LINES ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BLANK.